Twelve years after the first album, the now ex-Fear Factory (which is still weird to think about) vocalist Burton C. Bell's Ascension Of The Watchers has returned. This album was plagued by PledgeMusic going under and might even include a spectral recording on it, so there's a lot going on here. Apocrypha winds up being a spookier and more atmospheric band than FF, or really anything else Bell has done. This is a very October/Fall/Halloween sounding album.
Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains
Genre: Rock Origin: Stony Brook, New York Label: Frontiers
While not metal, you gotta give those that paved the way a nod when you can. On their first new album in nineteen years, BOC are bringing their classic sound with surprising force. Again, not metal, but heavier than I expected. Then, something that tickled me is that in a move that almost seems to pay tribute to their SNL parody, founding drummer Albert Bouchard appears on the album for the album opener…playing cowbell
Gargoyl – Gargoyl
Genre: Grunge/experimental?/Prog? Origin: Boston, Massachusetts Label: Season Of Mist
Part of my gig on this site is assigning new releases a genre for these blurbs, but I am having a hell of a time labeling Gargoyl. It has elements that remind me of grunge, and especially Alice In Chains, but it's like if Gorguts played grunge. So technical grunge? Progressive death grunge? Whatever. Anyway, unsurprisingly the guitar work is stellar with Revocation's David Davidson frolicking along the frets.
Inferi – Sunless Realms
Genre: Technical/melodic death metal Origin: Nashville, Tennessee Label: The Artisan Era
Now, how about a flurry of notes from a very Artisan Era sounding band? That's not meant to be a slam either. The Artisan Era has a sound that seem to enjoy putting out, and most of it is high quality. Then Inferi are one of their finest. Sunless Realms is a technical death metal master class in a five-track package.
Necrophobic – Dawn Of The Damned
Genre: Death/black metal Origin: Stockholm, Sweden Label: Century Media
In their thirty-plus years Necrophobic have dropped a lot of evil sounding metal at a high success rate. Their ninth album Dawn Of The Damned keeps that tradition going strong. While sounding VERY different from Ascension of the Watchers, this would also be a lovely addition to a Halloween playlist.
Venom Prison – Primeval
Genre: Death metal/hardcore Origin: South Wales Label: Prosthetic
Venom Prison have really been picking up steam lately, and rightfully so. So now seems as good a time as any to show new fans what they were up to in their early days with Primeval. This includes re-recordings of the first two EPs Defy the Tyrant and The Primal Chaos. Then, you're also getting a pair of new tracks perhaps just so it's not all old stuff.
